Railway-signal



(No Model.) I 2 sheetssheet 1. T. BREEN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 272,851. Patented Feb. 18-83.

- WITNESSES:

I INVENTOR.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. T. BREEN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL. No. 272,851. Patented Feb. 27, 1883.

\ummmm\ WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,851, dated February 27, 1883.

Application filed April 17, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS BREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knowlton, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which thet'o lowingis a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings, and in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved railway-signal as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, showing it in its two positions. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation,and Fig. 4. is a front elevation. Figs.5, 6, and 7 are detailed views thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in railway-signals, having for its object to effect the operation of the signals by the action of the wheels of the locomotive or cars; audit consists in the mechanism through or by which the action of the car or locomotive wheels is transmitted to the signal proper, and details of construction, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

To put into practice my invention I employ a case, A, preferably of the form shown, with one end made or provided with an upright rectangular tube orsupplemental case, A, its upper end being left open.

B is the signal proper, which may be a flat bar or board, arranged in the upright tube or case A. On, or rather in, the front side of the case or tube A is avertical slot, it. Through this slot projects a projection secured to the signal B, and having depending from its outer end a shade, b, to aid the dropping of the signal.

Hung upon a hook or bracket, (and to cover the lamp when it is not desired to display the sign-ah) c, of the upright tube A, to have conveniently at hand, is a colored-glass lamp, c, to be secured or supported upon the signalframe at night. 1

O is a lever or rod pivoted in the upper part of one end of the case A, and having an outer curved or segmental arm, 0, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. This arm is attached or formed upon a righ -angled portion, U bearing upon a support, (1, arranged with relation to the case A, to which it is secured. Further, this segmental or curved arm of the lever O is arranged, as clearly defined in Fig. 1, alongside of one rail of the track on its outside. The signal apparatus or mechanism is therefore disposed a short distance from the track and parallel with it. This lever is curved downward from the right-angled arm or axis 0 to and extends along the bottom of the case A forward a suitable distance, and curved into an eye or shoulder, e, at its free end. This shoulder or end of the rod or lever G is arranged under the lower end of the signal or board B to enable it to act thereon. Further, said end is connected to achain,D,orits equivalent, which is carried around a grooved friction roll or pulley, D, and thence passed through a tube, f, to and connected to a distant rod, similar to .the rod E, arranged in the case A, whose forward end is connected to a pawl or lever, F. The pawl an'd pulley have a common axis, and are so arranged that the right-angled upper end or tooth of the pawlwill, when the board or signal and that end of the lever Gsupporting it are elevated, effect the holding of the signal or board in its elevated position. A

' spring, g, preferably secured to a disk or plate,

h, covering an opening in the side of the case A, and to the pawl or lever F, springs thelatter under the elevated signal.

It will be observed from the foregoing that as the wheel of the approaching locomotive or engine strikes and throwsdown the curved arm 0 of the lever G the forward end of saidlever will be instantly thrown up, elevating the sig= ual B, giving warning to any train behind. At the same instant the ascending end of the lever or rod 0 will draw upon the chain D, passed around the pulley D, causing it to revolve and pull a lever or pawl, similar to the pawl F, from under the signal, placed a mile in the rear, and thus cause it to fall, warning any train behind. Thus it will be observed that should a train of cars pass signal A and then break down between signal A and A a mile apart, an approaching train from behind, on reaching signal A, would be warned not to proceed, and hence the danger of a second train running into the broken-down train be-- tween the two stations would be avoided; also, simultaneously with the elevation of the forward end of the lever or rod (land the signal-board B, the pawl F, whose tooth is held in forcible contact with the said board by the action of its spring, will be sprung under the said end of the rod or lever O, and thus effect the holding of the same until tripped by a passing train, which sets it to danger as it leaves the other end of the block. The small circular door or disk h, above referred to, to which the spring 9 of the pawl F is connected, permits the ready insertion in place and removal of the spring when necessary, as Ior renewal or other purpose. The disk or door It is removably secured in place by a bolt, '5, passed through the case A and screwed at its screw threaded end into a female screw in an aperture, 41, in the disk or door.

1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Pateat-- 1. In a railway-signal, the combination of the lever having a curved arm, a right-angular cross-arm, and lateral extended arm, with eye 6 formed in the end of the same, with the sliding signal-board whose lower end is arranged to rest on one end of said lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a railway-signal, the. combination of the lever, constructed to operate as described, with the sliding signal-board and the spring- 25 pawl, arranged to support the forward end of said lever and the signal-board in an elevated position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a railway-signal, the combination of 0 the lever, constructed to operate as described, the sliding signal-board, the spring-pawl, and chain, or its equivalent,connecrted to the rod of the said lever, thence passed over a friction pulley or roll, and extended and connected 5 to a rod connected to a distant pawl supporting a sliding signal-hoard, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereot'laffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BREEN.

Witnesses:

H. A. HALL, J AS. A. BAXTER. 

